Calendar compliments of www.bywords.ca.

July 18, 2026
Jamaal Amir Akbari events
Web: www.jaaworld.ca/
Born in Toronto with roots in Guyana, and now based in Marathon Village, Ottawa, Jamaal Amir Akbari—known on stage as JustJamaal ThePoet or JAAWORD—is a griot of the modern age. A multidimensional artist, he explores themes of liberation, ancestral memory, spirit realities, and the transformative power of truth.
July 18 - 4:00–5:00 p.m. Street Seats Intersection of Bank & Frank, Ottawa Free | All Ages Join JustJamaal ThePoet for The History of Hip-Hop, a live performance blending jazz poetry, spoken word, and hip-hop as part of the Street Seats outdoor festival.
July 20 - 2:00–3:30 p.m. Poetry Reading & Writing Workshop MASC & Ottawa Public Library Partnership Emerald Plaza Branch, Ottawa Public Library Free | Adult Program | Registration Required booking.biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/event/justjamaal-thepoet-%E2%80%93-poetry-reading-and-writing An interactive workshop exploring poetry through reading, discussion, and creative writing.
July 31 - 6:30–8:30 p.m. Street Seats Intersection of Bank & Waverley, Ottawa Free | All Ages 30-minute performance by JustJamaal ThePoet featuring poetry from his debut book CHAMBERS, followed by a 90-minute workshop: Poetry and the Art of the Spoken Word.
August 8 - 2:00–4:00 p.m. Street Seats Intersection of Bank & Waverley, Ottawa Free | All Ages JustJamaal ThePoet presents a 30-minute performance of jazz poetry and hip-hop, followed by Songwriters Unite, a 90-minute workshop exploring the craft of writing memorable and impactful lyrics.
August 10 - 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Poetry Reading & Writing Workshop MASC & Ottawa Public Library Partnership Rosemount Branch, Ottawa Public Library Free | Adult Program | Registration Required A second offering of JustJamaal ThePoet's interactive workshop exploring poetry through reading, discussion, and creative writing.
September 16 - 8:30 p.m. Ottawa Hip Hop Jam Red Bird Live, Ottawa Join JustJamaal ThePoet as the featured artist performing with the Capital Syndicate Session Band. ADULT EVENT. More information: redbirdlive.ca
October 17 - 4:00–7:00 p.m. MAC-CAM Fall Showcase Arts Court Theatre, Ottawa Featured Artist JustJamaal ThePoet will present new work from his forthcoming album, NODEMO. ALL AGES. More information: mac-cam.ca
Readings, Signings and Book Club Meetings at Evermore Books
Time and Place: 875b Bank Street
Web: evermorebooks.ca/pages/events
tickets on site.
July 18 - Noahh Karam Book Signing 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
  July 2026 Events
Submit upcoming events to events@bywords.ca
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
An Indian Morning 10:00am
Culture géniale 1:00pm		 Art House Cafe Open Mic 7:00pm
Namaashoum 7:00pm		 Readings, Signings and Book Club Meetings at Evermore Books
Forever is the Sweetest Con by Joanna Thurlow Book Signing 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Words and Culture 10:00am
Ottawa StoryTellers: Story Cafe 7:00pm
Live on Elgin Open Mic 8:00pm		 The Lit Room with Susan Johnston 9:30am
Asian Sounds 6:00pm
Ottawa Scrabble Club 7:00pm
Ottawa Storytellers Open Mic In Person 7:00pm		 Perfect Books Readings and Signings
Terry Mosher Book Launch 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Third World Players Present 6:00pm
Sad Girl Cafe 7:00pm
Nostalgica Pub Open Mic 8:00pm		 Friday Special Blend 7:00am Jamaal Amir Akbari events
4:00–5:00 p.m. Street Seats Intersection of Bank & Frank, Ottawa Free | All Ages Join JustJamaal ThePoet for The History of Hip-Hop, a live performance blending jazz poetry, spoken word, and hip-hop as part of the Street Seats outdoor festival.
Readings, Signings and Book Club Meetings at Evermore Books
Noahh Karam Book Signing 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
An Indian Morning 10:00am
Culture géniale 1:00pm
JOY AS A REBELLION. Pt 4 of the Divine Circus Series 3:00pm
Book Launch | Interregnum by Jordan Himelfarb 7:30pm		 Jamaal Amir Akbari events
2:00–3:30 p.m. Poetry Reading & Writing Workshop MASC & Ottawa Public Library Partnership Emerald Plaza Branch, Ottawa Public Library Free | Adult Program | Registration Required booking.biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/event/justjamaal-thepoet-%E2%80%93-poetry-reading-and-writing An interactive workshop exploring poetry through reading, discussion, and creative writing.
Art House Cafe Open Mic 7:00pm
Namaashoum 7:00pm
Riverbed Reading Series presents: a smut slam annual fundraiser 7:00pm		 Words and Culture 10:00am
Live on Elgin Open Mic 8:00pm		 The Lit Room with Susan Johnston 9:30am
Asian Sounds 6:00pm
Night Oat Open Stage 7:00pm
Ottawa Scrabble Club 7:00pm		 Third World Players Present 6:00pm
Smutty Storytelling at the Rainbow Bistro 6:30pm
Nostalgica Pub Open Mic 8:00pm		 Friday Special Blend 7:00am Octopus Books Readings and Signings
Eltaris Signing | Marina Gabriela presents Eltaris 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
West Side Parade 11:00am
26 27 28 29 30 31  
An Indian Morning 10:00am
Culture géniale 1:00pm
(un)told 2025 - Ottawa StoryTellers 7:00pm
Art-N-Tell 7:00pm		 Ottawa Urbanism Book Club 6:15pm
Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City by Jorge Almazán, Joe McReynolds, and Naoki Saito
Art House Cafe Open Mic 7:00pm
Namaashoum 7:00pm		 Words and Culture 10:00am
Live on Elgin Open Mic 8:00pm		 The Lit Room with Susan Johnston 9:30am
Asian Sounds 6:00pm
Ottawa Scrabble Club 7:00pm		 Third World Players Present 6:00pm
Nostalgica Pub Open Mic 8:00pm		 Jamaal Amir Akbari events
6:30–8:30 p.m. Street Seats Intersection of Bank & Waverley, Ottawa Free | All Ages 30-minute performance by JustJamaal ThePoet featuring poetry from his debut book CHAMBERS, followed by a 90-minute workshop: Poetry and the Art of the Spoken Word.
Friday Special Blend 7:00am